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Umpiring Review Working Party
Executive Summary
Conclusions
The Review revealed that
there is a genuine concern from all groups in local football
that abuse of umpires at venues, by spectators, club officials
and players was discouraging people from taking up umpiring,
as well as detracting from a family environment. Officiating
in a poor working environment is one of the main deterrents to
recruiting umpires. To improve the sporting environment for
umpires and families, the CMFL must provide the leadership to
its clubs, their members and spectators, as a precondition for
attracting and retaining potential umpires.
The perceived lack of
communication between the CMFL and the CMUA was a concern to
the umpires. The insular and inward looking culture of the
umpires association was a concern for many stakeholders,
including umpires. An improved management and governance model
for the CMUA which includes closer ties to the CMFL could
potentially eliminate these two concerns, as well as, build a
capacity for long term strategic planning and improvement.
This review also makes a
strong recommendation that the CMUA review its current quality
management programme to include; regular formal and informal
feedback to umpires, including feedback from clubs, a formal
mentoring programme for all new umpires, additional promotion
of the AFL accreditation programme within the umpiring
fraternity, and an open, transparent and inclusive performance
management system.
The Working Party
submits the following recommendations based on our findings:
Recommendations
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The CMFL Board develop
strategies which ensure clubs, their players, officials,
members and spectators adhere to the Code of Conduct.
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The Working Party
recommends that the CMUA establish an independent Board of
Management to govern and manage the Central Murray Umpires
Association.
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The CMUA, with the
support of the CMFL establish, for the 2008 season, a
structure for providing all umpires with regular formal and
informal feedback, as well as supporting their training as
peer observers and developing the skills to “give and
receive’ feedback.
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The CMFL Board
introduce a by-law which complements the Laws of Australian
Football and encourages the umpire to award free kicks for
the misbehaviour of club officials or spectators in
proximity of the coach’s box.
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The CMFL Board
introduce a by-law which insists that any player or club
official, who is on the ground and acting in some capacity
for the team, is listed on the team sheet and situated well
back from the edge of the playing surface.
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The CMFL establish a
Tribunal Prosecutor position, who can manage the case
against charged players before the Independent Tribunal.
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The Working Party
recommends that the CMFL Board enter negotiations with the
CMUA to develop a pay scale and performance package which
better reflects the responsibility of the role and provides
a lucrative attraction for potential senior umpires.
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The CMFL Board
implement strategies which include and recognize the umpires
in the celebrations of the CMFL.
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The CMFL Board
schedule a meeting of coach’s, interested club officials and
umpire representatives prior to the commencement of the
season.
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The CMFL establish, as
soon as possible, a process for mediating disputes between
clubs and/or players and umpires. The mediation to be
chaired by a Board member and where possible the appropriate
training provided to the Chair.
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The CMFL establishes a
promotional fund which would be used by umpires to travel to
clubs to conduct training sessions with players, prior to
and during the season.
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The CMFL make a
commitment to support the CMUA in developing a medium term
strategy to improve their rooms and training facilities.
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The
CMFL make it mandatory for each club to provide the name of
one club member, each year, willing to be trained and
coached to achieve their Level 1 Umpiring Accreditation.
This process to continue for three years until each club has
three accredited umpires and these numbers be maintained
into the future.
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The CMUA with the
support of the CMFL develop a comprehensive marketing plan,
aimed at marketing umpiring as a positive part of football.
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The CMFL implement
initiatives which allow the Central Murray Umpires
Association to participate in mentoring umpires in the
junior competition.
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The CMFL encourage
clubs through the Club Excellence Awards or by other means
to improve the club environment for umpires. (E.g., tidy,
clean and warm umpires change rooms, with the basic
essentials received by players, including access to drinks
during and after games.)
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